Privateers Win Big On The Road At WestConn, 48-0

DANBURY, Conn. (Sept. 8, 2011) – The Maritime football team earned its first win of the 2011 season on its second try Friday night at Western Connecticut State University in shutout fashion, 48-0, at the Colonials' Westside Athletic Complex. The victory moves the Privateers to an even 1-1 on the season, while WestConn begins the season with a 0-1 mark.

In the first half, senior fullback Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) had three rushing touchdowns and classmate Madison Leary (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) was 2-for-2 in long field goals with a 44-yarder and a 47-yarder. Leary was also a perfect 3-for-3 in extra point kicks.

Maritime held Western Connecticut to just 39 yards of offense in the opening half, as junior linebacker Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) led the Privateers' defense with five tackles, including one sack for a loss of eight yards. Maritime had 254 yards of offense in the first: 195 rushing (led by Spanopoulos with 73 yards) and 59 passing. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Trodden (Putnam Valley, N.Y./JFK Catholic) was 3-for-6 with one interception and connected with sophomore Gary Bigham (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles) once, who led all players with 43 yards receiving in the first 30 minutes.

The Privateers scored on their first two drives of the second half, as Spanopoulos found the end zone a fourth time after a six yard run and Bigham ran one in from 18 yards out. Both of Leary's PATs were good to give Maritime a commanding 41-0 lead in the third. It wasn't until the fourth quarter when the Privateers would find the end zone again, this off a four-yard run by sophomore Andrew LaLonde (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) and a good PAT made the score 48-0 with 5:29 to play.

Barnes led all Maritime defenders with seven tackles on the night, while junior linebacker Pat Lasher (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) placed second on the team with six tackles and classmate Michael Lorentzen(West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) was third with five.

Trodden had a game-high 104 yards rushing, while Spanopoulos finished second with 97 and the four TDs. Bigham had 54 rushing yards and one touchdown, while grabbing that pass in the first half for 43 yards to lead the Maritime receiving corps.

Colonials' junior defensive end Michael Farnsworth led all players with nine tackles and two players, sophomores Mike Lacaria and Bill Birdsell, both had seven tackles. Junior free safety had a first quarter interception, the only pick of the game, and finished the night with four tackles. On offense, Western Connecticut was limited to just 125 yards: 47 rushing (led by Tavonne Dangerfield with 35 yards) and 78 passing. Quarterback Hime Rraci was 8-for-15 for 73 yards, with Gerald Kramer and Dion Small as his primary targets with 27 yards receiving and 29 yards receiving, respectively.

The Privateers return to action next Saturday, Sept. 17, for the first home game of the 2011 season against arch-rival, the "Team from the East", the Kings Point Mariners in the third annual "Seafaring Scuffle." First kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Reinhart Field.